Replaced cowl. VIN rivets up or down?

The cowl on my car was pretty bad. Someone tried to fix it with fiberglass and that only made it look worse. I got a replacement (thanks again Mike Garrison) and now it looks perfect. Only problem is I have seen the VIN rivets installed both up and down on the various parts cars I have been through. I have the rivets but am not sure which way they go. You would think the star side of the rivet would be on top but I have no idea.
Anyone know for sure?

Here is what it looked like before'


Here is what I got from Mike,


Viola! Good as new.

 

also waiting for an answer on your thread...

but want 2 ask ya...where did ya pick up the exact type of rivets?

 

Frank, Guys name is Ron,
V.I.N. RIVETS - $40PR

V.I.N. RIVETS.CORRECT 6 SIDED ROSETTE REPRODUCTION RIVETS.HOLDS SERIAL # PLATE TO DASH FRAME..$40PER PAIR..
GILSUM, NH, 03431, (603 )-209 1678


They are not original. Evidently GM never sold the rivets so possesing them is illegal. These are reproductions and he claims them to be exact. I'm no expert but the look the same to me.

 

Item number: 4609600461

And what are you up to now Mr Rex???? lol same as what we use ...or so I'm told.....lol

 

Rivets can only go in one way. Large flat rim/border is on the top side of the tag. No way to get the riveter from the inside of the cowl facing up.

You can get those rivets new from www.trimtags.com for $12-15/pr

 

George, I'm talking about the VIN tag not the trim tag. But as long as you brought it up I need a set of those too.
Thanks

 

VIN rivets go from bottom side up, large area is on the bottom of the VIN tag.

 

I've seen those rivets installed both ways. Never paid much attention but its probably a plant or year thing.

Later
Tim

 

70 assembly manual shows them going in from the bottom, rosette facing down.

 

nothin pa

for my donor shell....thanks

also thanks 2 George....needed that also...

 

Thanks guys thats good news. Don't think I would have been able to do it from the top with the windshield in.

 

My 72 assembly manual shows the rivets from the bottom as well. When I bought my 72 ragtop in Nov 2000, ended up with a total of five cars. Three GS's (all 72), two skylarks. One skylark was 71, rivets from the top. My convertible rivet from the top, one of the other GS's rivet fromthe top, last two cars rivets from the bottom....not sure on my 71 stage 1, don't want to risk prying off the cover trim.

So I don't think it really matters. These things were assembled by labourers.

later
Tim

 

I have parted several cars and all of them had the rivets from the bottom up. All the Flint,Freemont cars I had were riveted from the bottom up.. Only seen 1 with the rivets from the top down.